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U.S. Says Parole of Jonathan Pollard, Spy for Israel, Will Follow Law U.S. Says Parole of Jonathan Pollard, Spy for Israel, Will Follow Law
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — United States officials said on Friday that they would not object to the scheduled parole of Jonathan J. Pollard, an American convicted of spying for Israel, who is eligible to be released in November after serving 30 years.WASHINGTON — United States officials said on Friday that they would not object to the scheduled parole of Jonathan J. Pollard, an American convicted of spying for Israel, who is eligible to be released in November after serving 30 years.
The White House said that if Mr. Pollard is granted parole, the decision would have no connection to any efforts to calm tensions with Israel over the recent nuclear deal with Iran.The White House said that if Mr. Pollard is granted parole, the decision would have no connection to any efforts to calm tensions with Israel over the recent nuclear deal with Iran.
“Mr. Pollard’s status will be determined by the United States Parole Commission according to standard procedures,” said Alistair Baskey, a spokesman for the National Security Council. “There is absolutely zero linkage between Mr. Pollard’s status and foreign policy considerations.”“Mr. Pollard’s status will be determined by the United States Parole Commission according to standard procedures,” said Alistair Baskey, a spokesman for the National Security Council. “There is absolutely zero linkage between Mr. Pollard’s status and foreign policy considerations.”
The statement was a response to a report in The Wall Street Journal indicating that American officials were pressing for Mr. Pollard’s release in the coming weeks, in part to allay Israel’s anger over the nuclear accord.The statement was a response to a report in The Wall Street Journal indicating that American officials were pressing for Mr. Pollard’s release in the coming weeks, in part to allay Israel’s anger over the nuclear accord.
By law, Mr. Pollard, 60, must be eligible for parole after 30 years, and a hearing is scheduled for November. Mr. Pollard, a former Navy intelligence analyst who is serving a life sentence in North Carolina for passing classified documents to Israel, could be released if the commission finds that he is not likely to commit further crimes and has no record of bad behavior in prison. By law, Mr. Pollard, 60, must be eligible for parole after 30 years, and a hearing is scheduled for November. Mr. Pollard, a former Navy intelligence analyst who is serving a life sentence in North Carolina for passing classified documents to Israel, could be released if the parole commission finds that he is not likely to commit further crimes and has no record of bad behavior in prison.
“The Department of Justice has always and continues to maintain that Jonathan Pollard should serve his full sentence for the serious crimes he committed, which in this case is a 30-year sentence as mandated by statute,” Marc Raimondi, a spokesman for the department, said in a statement.“The Department of Justice has always and continues to maintain that Jonathan Pollard should serve his full sentence for the serious crimes he committed, which in this case is a 30-year sentence as mandated by statute,” Marc Raimondi, a spokesman for the department, said in a statement.
Mr. Pollard’s case has been a perennial source of tension between the United States and Israel. The United States has refused to release him, in part because of vehement opposition from the nation’s intelligence agencies. Last year, the Obama administration discussed releasing him as part of an effort to avert a collapse in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. At the time, some administration officials noted privately that Mr. Pollard’s value as a bargaining chip was diminishing because of his parole eligibility. Mr. Pollard’s case has been a perennial source of tension between the United States and Israel. The United States has steadfastly refused to release him, in part because of vehement opposition from its intelligence agencies. Last year, the Obama administration discussed releasing him as part of an effort to avert a collapse in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. At the time, some administration officials noted privately that Mr. Pollard’s value as a bargaining chip was diminishing because of his parole eligibility.